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Tianjin A320s take to the skies

By Lu Haoting and Xu Jingxing (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-19 07:57

Harry Nelson (2nd from left), vice-president of Production Flight Tests, Airbus, gives a thumbs up after completing the test flight of A320 assembled in Tianjin. [China Daily]

Flight test engineer Ren Zidan has flown for over 200 flight hours and piloted more than 30 jets in his career.

But yesterday's flight was indeed unique and exhilarating for Ren. He was one of the five people, who flew the first Airbus A320 assembled in China.

"The quality and performance (of the aircraft) is no different from those assembled in Europe. As a Chinese employee of Airbus, I feel honored to participate in the maiden flight of the first A320 assembled in China," said Ren, who received his flight test-engineering license in April.

Related readings:  First China-assembled A320 test flight successful  1st China-assembled A320 to be delivered to Sichuan Airlines  Local carriers to get Airbus A320s  Tianjin may get A350 airframe work

The aircraft performed a test flight of four hours yesterday in Tianjin. It made two circles at low altitudes before landing at the second runway of the city's airport, even as the gathered crowd of over 800 clicked away with their camera phones and digital cameras.

The aircraft will be delivered to Dragon Aviation Leasing in June and will be operated by Sichuan Airlines.

The Airbus A320 final assembly line in Tianjin is to roll out 10 more jets this year and they will be delivered to Hainan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.

The Tianjin factory started assembling the first aircraft last September. It will be able to produce two jets per month by the year end, said Jean-Luc Charles, general manager of Airbus Final Assembly Line Co in Tianjin. The production rate will be ramped up to four aircraft per month by the end of 2011.

As Airbus' only aircraft final assembly line outside Europe, the factory has been regarded as a strategic project for the company to generate incremental sales in China. Airbus has a 40 percent market share in China and expects it to grow to 50 percent before 2013.

China, which is the world's fastest-growing commercial aviation market, has been eager to build up its industrial know-how to develop its own large commercial airplanes.

The A320 family aircraft is Airbus' best-selling model and accounts for nearly 80 percent of the Airbus fleet in China. Chinese airlines ordered 410 A320s between 2005 and 2007.

The final assembly line is a joint venture between Airbus and a Chinese consortium comprising Tianjin Free Trade Zone and China Aviation Industry Corporation. Airbus China holds 51 percent of the shares, while the Chinese consortium holds the balance stake.

The project is considered vital for Tianjin to attract investment from other aviation related companies. More than 10 foreign aviation suppliers, including Goodrich and Thales have started to build a presence in the Binhai New Area where the A320 final assembly line is located, said Zhao Haishan, chairman of the joint venture.